SmokeLess States Program - Implementation

The Foundation's SmokeLess States: National Tobacco Policy Initiative is a program that supports development and implementation of comprehensive statewide strategies to reduce tobacco use through education, treatment, and policy initiatives.The purpose of this project is for the Coalition for a Tobacco-Free Colorado, the nation's oldest public tobacco control coalition, to provide leadership for a program that also models the California and Massachusetts efforts. The project will use Foundation funds to conduct: (1) coalition-expansion efforts that will recruit and strengthen business, civic, and policymaker leadership for tobacco control activities; and (2) a statewide public education campaign designed to increase public awareness and knowledge regarding tobacco as a public health problem. This project will complement a tobacco tax initiative that is scheduled to go to Colorado voters this November. The revenues generated by the increased tobacco tax would primarily support enhanced tobacco prevention and control activities and state health financing reform efforts.